Greece's parliament has narrowly approved a sweeping bill of reforms,
including cuts to the public sector that will see thousands of people lose
their jobs.

The reforms that had caused days of protests passed by a majority of 153 to 140.

Under the cuts, thousands of civil servants including teachers and municipal police will have eight months to find new posts elsewhere or accept those offered to them. Otherwise, they would lose their jobs.

The vote was the first major test for Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's two-party coalition since losing an ally over the abrupt shutdown of the state broadcaster last month, which left it with a slim five-seat majority in the 300-seat parliament.

Hundreds of protesters had gathered outside parliament for the late-night vote, one day after thousands had demonstrated in a general strike called against the reform package.

About 4,200 state staff are already due to be redeployed by the end of July.